Sometimes it’s just a bunch of somewhat connected, but rambling thoughts

First I would like to thank everyone who has taken the time to vote during the midterm elections. As I sit here writing this, election day is about to begin, but you will not read it until after we know the results of months of candidates crisscrossing the state campaigning for our vote.
Did we wake up today making history as the first state in the country to elect a Native American as Governor? Did the majority of us vote yes on Proposition One or Proposition Two? I really have no idea how this will play out, but like a kid waiting for Christmas morning, I am anxious to find out.
I’m not as anxious for the very long day ahead of me. While we no longer have the ability to hold the paper and wait to go to press until after the election results come in tonight I will still be at the courthouse at 9 p.m. waiting for the results for Elmore County to come in so I can post the local results to our website right away.
I’ve always been very involved in the election day process and during my stay at home mom days worked at one of our local precincts with my in laws, but spending my nights at the courthouse is new to me. My first time doing it was during the primaries this spring and even though it was a late night I enjoyed it. It’s an exciting place to be as candidates and their supporters fill the courtroom waiting as the ballot boxes start rolling in from across town and from the far reaches of the county.
Tomorrow morning, however, I am going to be tired and dragging butt, it will be a strong coffee day for sure, but it is all part of this job and I love it.
I’ve gotten to experience so many new opportunities since coming to work at the Mountain Home News. Just last week Senator Mike Crapo’s Deputy Press Secretary came to my office for a visit. Not to ask us to do something for them ahead of the elections, but to ask what they could do for the people of Elmore County and how they can keep us informed. We spoke about the rail spur, trying to bring in industry and economic growth, the need for higher education opportunities such as vocational schools and technological infrastructure like fiber optics. We also spoke about the county’s need for water and how big of a thing it would be if Anderson Ranch Dam is raised three feet for our citizens. She was very interested in what matters to our little community and promised to keep us up to date on these items and to always reach out if they feel there is something else that would have a direct effect on our readers. I made sure she knew how much our little military town with such a high ratio of veterans appreciates the amount of information they send us on matters to do with our military and our veterans.
With that being said on Sunday is , in my opinion, one of the most important holidays of the year, Veterans Day. I am not military and neither is my husband or my parents, but like many of you I do have military ties. My grandfather retired as a Chief Master Sergeant for the United States Air Force and a Vietnam Veteran and it is something I shout from the rooftops with pride. I also have had uncles who have served in pretty much every branch of the military. I appreciate them and am thankful for them and all of you veterans and serving members of our military, but during this time of the year I spend a lot of time in awe over what all you do and what you all have sacrificed. There is no bigger hero in this nation then our men and women in uniform. Thank you for your service each and everyone of you.
To my own personal Superman, my Grandpa, Johnnie Roache, you mean the world to me and I am so proud to call you my grandpa and a proud military veteran. I’ll see you on Sunday for our yearly tradition of an afternoon visit with my hero.